Libby quickly mumbled something about them only being roommates because it made financial sense.Dan hid his smile, and as they made their way to the hut, he recalled that first time he’d walked down this heavily scented garden path.
He’d been so miserable then, but now, he was looking up at the bright blue sky, imagining Libby on top of him, riding him like she’d done last night.He really must get prepared.
And tomorrow was Christmas Eve.
Christmas!
Only with bright flowers, sunshine, heat, and clear skies.With Libby and Karim.
“What are you smiling about?”Libby asked, her eyes narrowing in that way of hers when she suspected he was acting vaguely human.Tia Rosa had left, and Karim was rolling around the garden.“Where’s Cranky, and what have you done with him?”
“Cranky’s gone,” he told her and hooked a finger in the collar of her T-shirt to bring her closer to his lips.“You must’ve left him under that mango tree.”
Her mouth parted.He dipped his head.
“Hello!”It was Tia Rosa’s voice again.Libby and Dan sprang apart.“I have visitors for you!”
Tia Rosa stepped through the bush-covered path, his mother and Malek behind her.
“Mum?What’s—?”
“Oh, Danny!”she said.“I’m so glad you’re back.You wouldn’t believe what Femi’s just told me!”
Chapter 22
“EveryonethinksI’mdeadnow?”
“It was a friend’s dad’s funeral,” Mum said.“That photographer saw Femi dressed in black and then followed her to the crematorium.When she told Jarell, he threatened him with the police.And now there are all these lies on social media that it wasyourfuneral.That you killed yourself because you couldn’t come to terms with your injuries and we’re keeping it all a secret until after Christmas.”
“The only truth in any of it is that your sister attended a funeral,” Malek chipped in.He was standing behind Mum, thick arms crossed over his barrel chest in a bodyguard stance.“Femi said when everyone was leaving, there were more reporters hanging around outside.”
“They blocked cars,” Mum added.“Took photos through the windscreen.It’s disgusting.”
“I know.”Dan gritted his teeth.If Karim wasn’t in the room, he’d have been going ballistic.Those fucking hounds had gone too far this time.
“And Isabella…” Mum wrung her hands.“She messaged Gabi to say that she’s releasing a statement immediately to tell her followers that you’re not dead, that you’ve not committed suicide.But social media is unreal.The things people are saying!And all because of that awful man following Femi and spreading lies.”
Dan rubbed his forehead.That was good of Isabella to do that, but clearly, mentioning her ex-would-be-daughter-in-law hadn’t helped curb Mum’s anxiety over all the other things people were saying.
“God, I hate journalists,” Mum hissed through gritted teeth.
Dan glanced at Libby, who quickly turned her attention back to Karim, something like shame flickering across her face.
“Not all journalists are bad,” Dan said.Mum and Malek’s heads snapped up.“I know, I know.I’ve changed my tune.”He stepped over to Libby.“Libby is a journalist—a very good one.”
“Oh…” Mum’s face turned from angry to embarrassed.“I’m so sorry, Libby.I didn’t know.And I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay, Carina.There are some really rotten eggs out there, and I can understand your hatred.”She looked back at Karim, eyes focused on her child as he played with his cars on the floor by her feet.“Gossip journalists are the worst,” she added.
“But that’s not your kind of journalism.”Dan turned back to his mum and Malek.“Libby writes parenting and travel articles.And she makes videos too.”He told them about Libby’s channel and the content they were making.“We planned to release them in the new year, but now…” His gaze found Libby’s, who was waiting for his next words like she already knew what they’d be.“I know you need time to prep your social channels.I know our interviews are to help your career as much as mine and that you need time to set everything up to maximize the exposure…but…but it’s—”
“—the only way to stop the rumors,” Libby finished for him.Then she stood and clasped her hands together.“All right, Dan.It’s time.”
“Time for what?”Mum asked, looking between them.
Dan grinned at Libby.She grinned back, and the heat of their connection lit a fuse inside him.
“It’s time to blow up the internet.”
